“Kanto Division of the International Police, huh… Wait, International Police!?”
At first, Gary didn’t fully process what August was saying. But the moment it clicked, he shot up from the couch, staring at him in disbelief.
Gary had considered all sorts of possibilities for this so-called part-time job—he even half-suspected August was setting him up to be a sparring partner for some rich trainer.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect this.
But…
“You call this a part-time job?”
“What kind of part-time job is this ridiculous?!”
No wonder August had made him sign a confidentiality agreement first.
And now, he finally understood.
He understood why August could casually chat with Lance and Steven like equals.
He understood why August was so terrifyingly strong.
He understood why he could be both a professor at Celadon University and a Gym examiner.
The International Police might not be as well-known as the League Prosecutors, and many outside the League system only had a vague idea of its existence.
But Gary was someone who had looked into them.
They were an organization that used all means necessary to combat criminal groups and global threats.
So when August said his part-time job was with the International Police, Gary couldn’t help but feel like he was being played.
“Well, tell me—was I wrong?” August started listing off the benefits he had told Gary earlier. “It improves battle skills, pays well, and doesn’t interfere with your travels… I didn’t lie, did I?”
“…You didn’t.”
Gary had to admit, August wasn’t wrong.
Fighting criminals every day? That would improve battle skills.
One of the highest-paying jobs in the world? Check.
No active missions? Free to do as he pleased.
But calling it a part-time job was still insane.
“Just say whether you’re in or not.” August shrugged. “I personally picked you for this, you know.”
“I didn’t even invite Ash.”
At the mention of Ash, Gary instinctively flipped his hair, his tone dripping with pride. “Of course! I’m way better than that idiot.”
“Well then, since you personally invited me, I guess I can graciously accept…”
The moment Gary agreed, August turned to Blue, exchanging a knowing glance.
See? I told you just mentioning Ash would do the trick. Now do you believe me?
Blue glanced at the now self-satisfied Gary, nodded, and silently admitted defeat.
She had to hand it to August—he had Gary’s thought process completely figured out.
…
While bringing up Ash was enough to cloud Gary’s judgment, once he finished signing the onboarding documents, his brain quickly caught up.
The realization that he would now be dealing with criminal organizations hit him, and for the first time, he felt a little uneasy.
So, he voiced his concerns to August.
Hearing this, August clapped a hand on Gary’s shoulder and grinned. “Relax, you’ve got me in the team. If we run into a dangerous opponent, I’ll handle it first—you just have to assist.”
“There’s no way we’d send a rookie trainer on life-threatening missions. Even Professor Oak asked me to look out for you.”
Gary thought about August’s Gardevoir.
Then he thought about his Elite Four-tier Eevee.
Oh.
Right.
If things went south, he had August.
Letting out a relieved breath, he asked, “So, how many people are in the Kanto Division right now?”
In Gary’s mind, even though the International Police was an elite group, a regional branch had to have at least fifty members.
August had mentioned that this was just one of their safe houses, and safe houses were never limited to just one location.
So, naturally, his colleagues were probably scattered across Kanto on different assignments.
Then, August raised a hand, showing five fingers.
And then two.
“Fifty-two? That’s about what I expected.” Gary’s confidence soared.
With fifty-two agents backing him up, he, Gary Oak, would be unstoppable in Kanto!
Team Rocket?
Please, they’d be nothing.
Excited about his future, Gary imagined the day Ash would stare at him in envy, and he couldn’t help but smirk.
But then August brought him crashing back to reality.
Patting Gary’s shoulder, he said, “What are you thinking? There’s no way we have fifty-two agents. If we had that many, would Team Rocket still be running rampant in Kanto?”
“…Then what does five and two mean?” Gary was confused.
It wasn’t fifty-two… Then could it be…
August sighed. “It means that, including you, our department has five members.”
“…And two Pokémon.”
As he spoke, he gestured toward the two smiling Indeedee standing beside them—one male, one female.
The two Indeedee greeted Gary with a friendly wave.
Gary reflexively waved back, but internally, his mind was in utter chaos.
“F-Five people?!”
The gap between his expectations and reality wasn’t just big—it was astronomical.
Even if they only had twenty or thirty members, he could accept it.
But five?!
“…Can I still quit?” Gary asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
August’s smile didn’t waver. “You already signed the papers. What do you think?”
Gary felt like he was going to pass out.
He’d been played.
Completely and utterly scammed by August.
If Ash ever found out about this, forget envy—he’d never hear the end of it.
Blue, watching the scene unfold, felt a wave of nostalgia.
After all, she had been roped into the Kanto Division the exact same way.
Seeing Gary’s devastated expression, August patted him again and offered some comfort.
“Come on, don’t look so down. You actually joined at a good time.”
“When I first joined the International Police, aside from Lance, who was a part-time director, I was the only member.”
“I built this division from the ground up, brick by brick!”
“But now, with you on board, trust me—our future is bright!”
As August painted an elaborate picture of their glorious future, Gary had no choice but to swallow his frustration.
Because what else could he do?
He couldn’t quit.
All he could do now was hope August got this division properly staffed soon.
Then again, being in a smaller team had its perks—at least he wouldn’t have to waste time on office politics.
And when the division eventually grew, he’d be one of the senior members.
Convincing himself with this thought, Gary started to feel a little better.
—
This is a fan translation of 人在实教，一之濑你会后悔的 by 作者：白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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